Improvement in corn-coverers



T. B. McCHESNEY.

CORN-COVERER. v No.171,829. Patented Jan. 4, 1876.

N. PETERS, PNDTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D, C.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

THoMAs B. MOGHESNEY, or HAMEesvILLE, onto.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-COVERE RS- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,829. dated January 4, I876 application filed 7 August 13, 1875. I

To all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS B. MoOHEsNEY, of Hamersville, Brown county, Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Convertible Gorn-Ooverers, Cultivators, and

Road-Scrapers, of which. the following is a specification p This invention relates to that class of convertibie devices which are capable of being employed either as a corn-coverer, a cultivator, or a road-scraper; and my improvement conprises a peculiar construction of such implements, whereby these various changes can be efi'ected in the most expeditious manher, as hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing my implement in condition for use as a corn-coverer. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the implement converted into a double-shovel plow or cultivator. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the implement changed into a road-scraper. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through one end of the roller and its attachments. Fig. 5 is a section showing the manner of securing the road-scraper to the sheaths of the implement. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of said scraper detached.

Of the-above illustrations Figs. 4 and 5 are to a larger scale than the others.

The main beam A, clevis a, and handles B B may be of customary or any appropriate form, and require no specific description. United to this beam by a bolt, 0, are two sheaths, D D, which are preferably made of wrought-iron, so as to combine strength with lightness. These sheaths are bent or bowed awayfrom said beam, in the mannershown,and are maintained in their proper position by customary tie-rods dd, whose upper ends are secured to beam A with a bolt, E. Attached to the sheaths by bolts ff are the shares F F, of the represented or any approved form. The rear ends of braces d d are united to the sheaths by bolts 9 g, which also serve as pivots for a floating frame, G G, within which isjournaled the shaft H of a roller, I. If preferred, this roller may be plated with zinc, or other suitable sheet metal, or material that will prevent the adhesion of earth. The shaft H also traverses vertical slots j j, in hangers J J, the latter being secured to beam A by means of a bolt, K. These hangers are located a sufficient distance in rear of the sheaths D D to allow the rollerfI to operate freely and without collision withthe shares F 'F, or any other-part of the implement.

. In order to prevent any vertical play of the shaft H withinthe slots jj, the hangers J J have pivoted to them, at l l, turn-bars or stops L L, which can be maintained in an elevated position by hooks M, as seen in Fig. 1, or otherwise. When these stops are turned down, as shown in Fig. 4, the bars are locked, so as to prevent them swinging on their pivots,

g g, and said frame then ceases to be any longer a floating or gravitating one. Secured to the rear of frame G G is a scraper, N, which preventsthe accumulation of earth upon the periphery of roller I. O is a scraper, having apertures o 0 for the reception of bolts ff, whenever said scraper is to be secured to the sheaths D D, as seen in Fig. 3.

' When my implement is to be employed as a corn-coverer, all of the operative parts are applied, as shown in Fig. 1, the roller I being free to rise and fall with the inequalities of the ground but, nevertheless, the supporting-frame G G can at any time be rendered unyielding by simply turning down the stops L L, as previously described. It the earth be loose and friable the stops L L are to be turned up, so as to allow vertical play of the frame G G that supports the roller H,I, as in that case the weight of the roller Will be sufficient to reduce the mellow soil to a smooth and level condition; but in case the ground is dry and hard, or cloddy, the stops are to be turned down, so as to render the frame G G perfectly rigid and unyielding, so as to throw the entire weight of the implement upon the roller I, which latter then acts to pulverize the clods and to pack the line earth snugly about the grain.

To convert the implement into a cultivator, or a simple double-shovel plow, the bolts 0 K and pivots g g are first slackened, after which the frame G G N, roller H I, and hangers J J, and their accessories L M, are all detached from their previous supports. The sheath D is then shifted a suitable distance to the rear, and secured to the beam by the same bolts K that had previously been employed for attaching the hangers J J. The brace or tie-rod d of said shifted sheath is attached to the beam A by the same bolt (3 that secures the other.

sheath'Din position, as shown in Fig.2. This act is all that is necessary to be done in order to produce a secure and eflicient cultivator the change being accomplished in a few minutes, with such tools as are in general use by all farmers.

To convert the implement t rom a cultivator into a road-scraper the sheath D is restored to its original position, the shares F F removed, and the platescraper O is then attached to the two sheaths D D. For uniting the scraper O to said sheaths the same bolts f f are employed that had previously been used for attaching the' shares of the implement. As this implement is capable of being readily converted into three distinct ones, each completeand perfect in itself, it will be understood that thefarmer is saved a considerable outlay that would be necessary in case set my hand.

he was compelled to buy. three separate machines. Besides this advantage he saves in the room that would be required to store such implement in during the winter season. L Idesign to use this implement for covering and working or tending corn, cotton, or cane, or any grain that is planted either in hills or drills.

I claim as my invention-- The combination of beam A B B, sheaths D F D F, pivoted frame G g G g, roller H I, slotted hangers J j J" j, and stop L, which latter is capable of being set so as to render said frame G g G g either afixed or gravitatin g one, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose stated.

In testimony of whichiuvention I hereunto THOS. B. MoOHESNEY. Attest:

. GEO. H. KNIGHT,

T. H. DAVIS. 

